Multi-movement single lever control

ABSTRACT

A single lever control comprises a tubular bellcrank pivotally mounted on a stationary support and a handle pivotally mounted to a first arm of the bellcrank. A connecting rod is universally connected to the handle and extends through the bellcrank for attachment to the stem of a first control valve. A second arm of the bellcrank is pivotally connected to the stem of a second control valve whereby the handle may be actuated to selectively actuate the first control valve and/or the second control valve.

United States Patent Campbell 1 Oct. 30, 1973 [54] MULTll-MOVEMENTSINGLE/LEVER 2,951,393 9/1960 Schroeder et al 74/471 R CONTROL 3,184,9895/1965 Rhodes 74/471 R Trevor G. Campbell, Peoria, Ill.

Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co., Peoria, 111.

Filed: Apr. 10, 1972 Appl. No.: 242,307

Inventor:

[1.8. CI 74/471 XY, 74/471 R, 74/473 R, l37/636.4

Int. Cl G05g 9/04 Field of Search 74/471 XY, 471 R, 74/473 R; 244/83 C,83 R, 85; 137/6364 References Cited 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1972 Galas74/473 R 12/ 1968 Dangauthier 3/1959 Rush 74/471 R PrimaryExaminerCharles J. Myhre Assistant Examiner-F. D. Shoemaker AtmrneyPaulS. Lempio ABSTRACT A single lever control comprises a tubular bellcrankpivotally mounted on a stationary support and a handle pivotally mountedto a first arm of the bellcrank. A connecting rod is universallyconnected to the handle and extends through the bellcrank for attachmentto the stem of a first control valve. A second arm of the bellcrank ispivotally connected to the stem of a second control valve whereby thehandle may be actuated to selectively actuate/the first control valveand/ or the second control valve.

11 Claimsf l Drawing Figure 1 MULTI-MOVEMENT SINGLE LEVER CONTROLBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION lever are normally bulky, complex andexpensive to manufacture and service.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is to .provide acompact, non-complex and economical single lever control adapted formulti-movements to actuate two or more control valves therewith.

The single lever control comprises a stationary support having abellcrank pivotally mounted thereon for pivotal movement about a firstaxis. The bellcrank comprises first and second arms extending therefromand a handle pivotally mounted on the first arm for pivotal movementabout a second axis which is disposed transversely relative to the firstaxis. A connecting rod is pivotally connected to the handle and extendsin the general direction of the first axis for attachment to the controlelement of a first control valve whereas the second arm is adapted forattachment to the control element of a second control valve. Pivotalmovement of the handle about the second axis will function toreciprocate the connecting rod in the direction of the first axis toactuate the first control valve whereas pivotal movement of the handleabout the first axis will function to actuate the second control valve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Further objects of this invention willbecome apparent from the following description and accompanying drawingwhich is an isometric view of a single lever control embodying thisinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 'The drawing illustrates a single lever controlcomprising a stationary support, including spaced support brackets 11,mounted in the operators cab of a wheel loader, for example. A tubularbellcrank 12 is pivotally mounted on the support brackets foroscillatory movement about an axis X. The bellcrank has longitudinallyspaced first and second arms 13 and 14, respectively, extendingtherefrom in at least approximate perpendicular relationship withrespect to 'each other.

A handle 15 is pivotally mounted to first arm 13 of the bellcrank by apin 16 for oscillatory movement about a second axis Y, preferably.disposed perpendicular to first axis X. Arms 13 and 14 extend in thegeneral direction of the first and second axes, respectively. The handlecomprises a clevis 17, having its lower bifur cated end pivotallymounted on first arm 13 by pin 16.

An extension 18, secured to the clevis to extend away therefrom in thegeneral direction of first axis X, has a hand lever 19 secured thereonto be selectively moved by an operator. A connecting rod 20 is connectedat a universal ball and socket connection 21 to clevis 17 of the controlarm and extends through bellcrank 12 in general alignment with axis X.The opposite end of the connecting rod is pivotally connected to acontrol element 22 of a first control valve 23 by first linkage means24.

The first linkage means comprises a bellcrank 25 pivotally mounted onthe stationary support by a pivot pin 26. The bellcrank comprises afirst arm 27 pivotally connected to rod 20 by a pin 28 and a second arm29 pivotally connectedto a link 30. The link is pivotally interconnectedbetween arm 29 and control element 22 by pins 31 and 32, respectively.

Second linkage means 34 pivotally interconnects sec- 'ond arm 14 and acontrol element 35 of a second control valve 36. The second linkagemeans comprises a universal ball and socket connection 37 connecting arm14 to a single link 38. A pivot pin 39, in turn, connects the lower,clevis end of the link to control element 35.

In operation, the operator may pivot control lever 19 in the illustratedA direction to reciprocate connecting rod 20 in the general direction ofaxis X to actuate con- 7 moved in a compound direction to move bothcontrol elements 22 and 35 simultaneously, if so desired. Controlelements or stems 22 and 35 may be suitably connected to valve spools orthe like which function in a conventional manner to selectivelycommunicate hydraulic fluid through the respective valves.

What is claimed is:

1. A single lever control comprising a stationary support,

a bellcrank, having first and second arms extending therefrom, pivotallymounted on said support for pivotal movement about a first axis,

a handle pivotally mounted to said first arm for pivotal movement abouta second axis disposed transversely relative to said first axis,

a connecting rod pivotally connected to said handle and extending in thegeneral direction of said first axis and first and second control valveseach having a control element reciprocally mounted therein, firstlinkage means pivotally interconnecting said connecting rod and thecontrol element of said first control valve and second linkage meanspivotally interconv necting said second arm and the control element ofsaid second control valve.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said first and second arms arelongitudinally spaced on said bellcrank in at least approximateperpendicular relationship with respect to each other.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said first and second arms extend inthe general direction of saidfirst and second axes, respectively. a

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said bellcrank is tubular and saidconnecting rod extends therethrough.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said handle comprises a clevispivotally connected to said first arm, an extension cantilevered on saidclevis to extend away therefrom in the general direction of said firstaxis and a hand lever secured to said extension.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein said connecting rod is universallyconnected to said handle and wherein said first linkage means comprisesa bellcrank pivotally mounted on said support and having first andsecond arms thereof pivotally connected to said connecting rod and tothe control element of said first control valve, respectively.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said first linkage means furthercomprises a link pivotally interconnected between said last-mentionedsecond arm and the control element of said first control valve.

8. The invention of claim 1 wherein said second linkage means comprisesa single link pivotally interconnected between said second arm and thecontrol element of said second control valve.

9. A single lever control comprising a stationary support,

a bellcrank, having first and second arms extending therefrom, pivotallymounted on said support for pivotal movement about a first axis,

a handle pivotally mounted to said first arm for pivotal movement abouta second axis disposed transversely relative to said first axis, and

a connecting rod pivotally connected to said handle and extending in thegeneral direction of said first axis,

said first and second arms being longitudinally spaced on said bellcrankin at least-approximately perpendicular relationship with respect toeach other and extending in the general direction of said first andsecond axis, respectively.

10. A single lever control comprising a stationary support,

a tubular bellcrank, having first and second arms extending therefrom,pivotally mounted on said support for pivotal movement about a firstaxis,

a handle pivotally mounted to said first arm for pivotal movement abouta second axis disposed transversely relative to said first axis, and

a connecting rod pivotally connected to said handle and extendingthrough said bellcrank in the general direction of said first axis.

11. A single lever control comprising a stationary support,

a bellcrank, having first and second arms extending therefrom, pivotallymounted on said support for pivotal movement about a first axis,

a handle pivotally mounted to said first arm for pivotal movement abouta second axis disposed transversely relative to said first axis, saidhandle comprising a clevis pivotally connected to said first arm, anextension cantilevered on said clevis to extend away therefrom in thegeneral direction of said first axis and a hand lever secured to saidextension, and

a connecting rod pivotally connected to said handle and extending in thegeneral direction of said first axis.

1. A single lever control comprising a stationary support, a bellcrank,having first and second arms extending therefrom, pivotally mounted onsaid support for pivotal movement about a first axis, a handle pivotallymounted to said first arm for pivotal movement about a second axisdisposed transversely relative to said first axis, a connecting rodpivotally connected to said handle and extending in the generaldirection of said first axis and first and second control valves eachhaving a control element reciprocally mounted therein, first linkagemeans pivotally interconnecting said connecting rod and the controlelement of said first control valve and second linkage means pivotallyinterconnecting said second arm and the control element of said secondcontrol valve.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said first and secondarms are longitudinally spaced on said bellcrank in at least approximateperpendicular relationship with respect to each other.
 3. The inventionof claim 2 wherein said first and second arms extend in the generaldirection of said first and second axes, respectively.
 4. The inventionof claim 1 wherein said bellcrank is tubular and said connecting rodextends therethrough.
 5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said handlecomprises a clevis pivotally connected to said first arm, an extensioncantilevered on said clevis to extend away therefrom in the generaldirection of said first axis and a hand lever secured to said extension.6. The invention of claim 1 wherein said connecting rod is universallyconnected to said handle and wherein said first linkage means comprisesa bellcrank pivotally mounted on said support and having first andsecond arms thereof pivotally connected to said connecting rod and tothe control element of said first control valve, respectively.
 7. Theinvention of claim 6 wherein said first linkage means further comprisesa link pivotally interconnected between said last-mentioned second armand the control eLement of said first control valve.
 8. The invention ofclaim 1 wherein said second linkage means comprises a single linkpivotally interconnected between said second arm and the control elementof said second control valve.
 9. A single lever control comprising astationary support, a bellcrank, having first and second arms extendingtherefrom, pivotally mounted on said support for pivotal movement abouta first axis, a handle pivotally mounted to said first arm for pivotalmovement about a second axis disposed transversely relative to saidfirst axis, and a connecting rod pivotally connected to said handle andextending in the general direction of said first axis, said first andsecond arms being longitudinally spaced on said bellcrank in at leastapproximately perpendicular relationship with respect to each other andextending in the general direction of said first and second axis,respectively.
 10. A single lever control comprising a stationarysupport, a tubular bellcrank, having first and second arms extendingtherefrom, pivotally mounted on said support for pivotal movement abouta first axis, a handle pivotally mounted to said first arm for pivotalmovement about a second axis disposed transversely relative to saidfirst axis, and a connecting rod pivotally connected to said handle andextending through said bellcrank in the general direction of said firstaxis.
 11. A single lever control comprising a stationary support, abellcrank, having first and second arms extending therefrom, pivotallymounted on said support for pivotal movement about a first axis, ahandle pivotally mounted to said first arm for pivotal movement about asecond axis disposed transversely relative to said first axis, saidhandle comprising a clevis pivotally connected to said first arm, anextension cantilevered on said clevis to extend away therefrom in thegeneral direction of said first axis and a hand lever secured to saidextension, and a connecting rod pivotally connected to said handle andextending in the general direction of said first axis.